Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is breaking political tradition by making South Carolina his first stop after the Iowa caucuses instead of heading to New Hampshire, where the next voting contest will take place. DeSantis’ campaign has accepted an invitation for an event in Greenville, South Carolina, on Tuesday morning before heading to New Hampshire for a meet and greet and a town hall later in the day. This strategic move is aimed at pressuring former South Carolina Governor and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who currently leads DeSantis in early polling in both New Hampshire and South Carolina. DeSantis is also locked in a race with Haley for second place in Iowa, where former President Donald Trump holds a significant lead in the Republican primary field. The decision to prioritize South Carolina reflects DeSantis’ determination to challenge Haley’s dominance in the state, as he has garnered more endorsements from former and current elected officials in South Carolina than she has. Despite questions about the viability of DeSantis’ campaign, especially if he underperforms or loses to Trump in Iowa, his communications director Andrew Romeo affirms their intention to compete for every available delegate in New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, indicating a long-term strategy. Supporters of DeSantis see his decision to visit South Carolina after Iowa as a show of conviction and a demonstration that his campaign is not fading away. GOP strategist Dave Wilson suggests that by choosing Greenville as the first stop in South Carolina, DeSantis aims to energize conservative evangelical voters in the northern part of the state who align with his leadership style on cultural issues. This move signals that DeSantis is not considering himself out of the race and is determined to challenge Haley’s frontrunner status.
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Following the Iowa caucuses, DeSantis plans to visit South Carolina as his first stop, seen as a subtle dig at Haley.
